California Adventure or Disneyland First?

[novazx3]

Hi,

We are traveling to Disneyland resort the last week of Feburary-myself, DH, and DD (age 4). It's all of our first times going to Disneyland EVER. We have a three day trip, so I want to make the most of it. What park should we hit first if it's our first time? I really want to go on the Cars ride, and I heard California Adventure has all the Frozen stuff my DD would like. However, I love nostalgic disney and Mickey Mouse. Not sure what the best plan of attack would be, we are going on a Tues, Wed, and Thursday and we have park hoppers.

 

[chickapin parterre]

First visit to any Disney park?

 

[nikkislaght]

I would start at Disneyland.. get your fill and then do C/A the following day.. on your third day you can then hop if you have hoppers..
just my opinion though.. everyone will be different for different reasons

 

[Sherry E]

My opinion is that you should start your first trip to Disneyland Resort in Disneyland Park (on Tuesday -- and use the Magic Morning hour in Disneyland that you will get with your 3-day Hopper, if you can)!

Then do California Adventure the second day (or much later on day 1 if it is really urgent). Save the third day for catching anything you missed in either park on the first 2 days. Park hopping is easy and fast.

There are some Frozen elements in Disneyland too -- such as Arendelle in the Storybook Land Canal Boat ride and the show at the Royal Theatre (part of the Princess Fantasy Faire). All of the "Frozen Fun" (Anna and Elsa meet and greet, Olaf's Snow Fest, the sing-along and Freeze the Night party) is in California Adventure.

Likewise, there are also plenty of nostalgic elements to California Adventure -- including Oswald!


I'm sure others will offer plenty of great ideas and suggestions to help you plan your trip. Have fun!

 

[chickapin parterre]

If it is your very first visit to any Disney park, then DCA is the Tuesday visit, Wednesday would be Disneyland because Wednesday mornings are the best block of time to visit the park of the entire week and early entry Thursday would allow for you and spouse to maximize ride swap knowing how the attractions function in the park. For a first time visitor, DCA has other plus advantages for very young children attending for the very first time.

 

[juliekzp]

Are you staying in a Disney hotel? My answer depends on whether you have EMH each day or just one MM morning

 

[sheetz]

Go to the one that doesn't have any kind of early entry, unless you have that privilege and want to use it.

 

[novazx3]

This is our first time to any Disney park ever. I grew up a poor kid in Texas, so I'm living my dream now too. We are staying off property, but I got my vacation package from Costco which includes an early magic morning.

 

[juliekzp]

For the days you are there, DL will have early hours on Tuesday and Thursday, with CA early hours on Wednesday. I would do DL early (with your Magic Morning) on the first day. Then CA on Wed. If you find that lines are already long by the time you're in CA, you could just get FPs for the Frozen stuff and RSR (and see some shows that aren't open early, or lots of other rides that don't have long lines early), or go back to CA first thing on Thursday morning.

Have fun!!

 

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,
I don't recommend February...a lot of rides down for refurbishment. But, if there is no choice and February is a must, the parks you visit depend upon if you are staying on property or not. Either way, recommend to use Rope Drop (RD)...be at the park of choice 30 minutes prior to opening.
DL opens one-hour early for on-site guests on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. And DCA one-hour early Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. So, if you smartly use RD and are staying on property, then go to DL on Tuesday and Thursday and DCA on Wednesday. If you are not staying on property, recommend to go to DCA on Tuesday, DL on Wednesday and your favorite park on Thursday.
For DCA, recommend to go to Toy Story Mania first and get FP later for Racers. Lastly, recommend to read HydroGuy's tips and recommendations pinned at the top. Best advice in town!

 

[farmfresh]

As OPS have said the choice of day depends on your access. You will have early access to DL one morning with your 3 day hopper: if you also stay at a DL Hotel you will have early access to DL Tues Thurs, and DCA wed.

So if you have just the hopper ticket and are staying elsewhere, the best approach would be DL Tuesday (using EMH), DL Wed (to avoid the other guests with EMH at DCA) and then DCA THurs. Use your hopper on Wed to pick up FPs for some DCA rides. (see Hydro guys tips)

I don't recommend February...a lot of rides down for refurbishment.

If you are planning for February, don't be put off. Though there are some rides down (and the castle is being refurbed) there is still a lot to do! We have just returned and had a blast regardless !

 

[KateDrake]

This is a tough one! I'm a firm believer that every trip needs to start and end on Main Street USA! But that can be tough if you are limited in time and want to make the most of your schedule. Since you only have three days, I'd probably see what early entry options you have, and go with that. I'd totally do as suggested and do one day at each park and leave the third day for whatever you have missed or to redo favorites.

Whatever you choose, you'll have a great time!

 

[bumbershoot]

With a 4 year old, if they aren't familiar with rides, I would start in DCA. bug's land specifically. (not "it's tough to be a bug!") The rides are open, outdoors, and visible. She can see the line, she can see that at the end of the line she'll be on that ride with that music and that ride action. It's all out there and bright.

At Disneyland, people with kids tend to think Fantasyland! Where most of the rides are literally dark, where the storylines are scary (Snow White's ride has "scary" right there in the name!), where all you see is a line with nothing at the end. OK so Dumbo and the Carousel are easy to see, but you're bypassing some stuff to get to those. Even to a kid who has been there, sometimes it's all overwhelming and the line for a ride they've liked before can be dark and scary. (my kid at 3 or 4, not his first time, not wanting to be *in line* for Peter Pan. We had to cajole him and remind him the whole line long that the RIDE was good and he liked it a whole lot, even though it was early and chilly and the actual line had dim lighting...that was annoying.)

So I say, start in bug's land and then move on from there.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I'd actually suggest DL before DCA. We started taking my son when he was 2 (almost 3). We started with the iconic Dumbo and he was hooked from there on out. But, if your kid will recognize Pixar over Disney characters, which is entirely likely in this day and age, I'd suggest DCA, since there's Monster's Inc., Toy Story, Bug Land, and, of course, Carsland. If you go to DCA first, make sure to get there right at opening (or at least 30 minutes before) in order to minimize the time standing in line for RSR and/or get fastpasses for RSR and Frozen.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I would do Disneyland first. Personally, I would start at Buzz. It is usually a fast moving line and it is a good ride for the whole family. We are here right now and I think you will be really happy with your trip timing. I highly recommend shelling out for the blue bayou fantasmic package. We are Disney vets but I always adopted it and it shouldn't be missed. It really wraps up the whole Disney experience. Go first thing in the morning to dca and get rsr passes. The run out quick and it is an amazing ride. Those days of the week in February you really won't have to stress about much other than that one ride. Everything else will be short waits. Have fun!

 

[PacoDF]

If this is your first ever Disney park visit, I would suggest you to focus on the experience and not in the planning nor schedule. The first visit will happen just once and it should be magical. And to be really magical, your family first steps in a Disney park should be at Disneyland!! I guess nobody can argue that . Just enter the park, roam in Main Street and let your DD call the moves for a while. If she wants to greet Pluto go for it! She wants to enter a store? Let her! Surely those magical moments will make great memories for all of you.

After the "magical shock" is passed, you can try to get most of your time getting on rides and attractions, but remember, you can't see everything, so just relax and have a great time!.

The very best tip to get most of your time is to be at the turnstiles before opening time.

Just enjoy and have a magical time!

 

[chickapin parterre]

The good news......there is no bad choice.....all three days have their positives and negatives for opening each park. So what ever choice you make, prepare yourself for magic.
As a visitor for 50 years I cringe at suggesting DCA first and have never visited DCA first. But I am Monday-Thursday visitor and that is a better fit for my pilgrimages.
And once you purchase a Disneyland guide book at the book store or on line and read it three times you will have a grasp of the variety of suggestions offered here on this site.


So here my reasons for DCA first.

1. You want your child to be confident. Dark rides can be a problem for some children, not all children, but some children. You will never know until after that first dark ride if your child is in fear or having a blast. Regardless of the child you know right now, you will not know that reaction until the first dark ride is over. Mermaid in DCA offers a bright, happy story until a dramatic, semi scary ending. All dark rides in Disneyland Fantasyland start dark and end dark and scary. Mermaid Movie can be shown at home and prime the child for the joy of seeing Ariel. If the child responds with joy to the dark ride, then super, you will have a great two days at Disneyland. If the child responds to the attraction in fear, then off to Bugs Land you travel, to a very friendly child environment. soothing, simple rides outside much like a state fair. Then travel to Animation building to take in more child friendly events to build courage. Then to carsland for more outdoor fun, though limited to just one ride.

2. Carsland is where is the guide reading comes in handy. The two adults can do child swap or single rider for RSR while escorting the child around for sight seeing the in the wonderful area. Many wonderful photo opps in this area. Though I would discourage Racers for first time visitors as it has a habit of not functioning on a regular basis and could consume valuable time spent elsewhere. How did you feel the last 24 hours waiting for this site to come back up? You can very well have that feeling about waiting for RSR racers to boot up to admit visitors at any given hour.

3. Stroll around , take in other suggestions in the guide, more child swapping, outdoor places to eat. many wonderful photo opps again while the other adult explores hard core attractions.

4. it is a nice slow pace, wide walkways, open visuals allows you to measure the strengths of the child.

5.With the park hopper, you can always venture into Disneyland later in the day to soak in the sights to prepare yourself for the next two days. Main street has wonderful sights and great to asorb them so that the street is not a distraction first thing in the Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

6. The reason that I am suggesting using early entry for Thursday, is that you will have time to research your gude for specifics while resting Tuesday and Wednesday night in your lodging. Research will help with fastpass collection, child swap, meet and greets, and areas missed because just didn't see the areas i.e. Toontown and Thunder Ranch and the Pirate Island, all very child friendly. Getting your feet wet Tuesday in DCA, will help with the Disneyland plunge on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

[Keels]

I second all those that said DCA! Dark rides can be a little overwhelming for littles. If you start with DCA, definitely start with Bugs Land and then Cars Land so DD can see all the rides and know what she is getting in to! Then, head to Paradise Pier - maybe ride Mickey's Fun Wheel which is similar to a Ferris Wheel that she may know if she's been to the fair.

Then, I would test out "dark rides" by going on Little Mermaid. It's SO bright and fun and pretty - if she is familiar with The Little Mermaid, she will LOVE it ... and it would be an easy way to ease her into the concept of riding on dark rides! The immediate immersion into darkness can really be overwhelming.

 

[DisneyMax74]

This is just my two cents...but I say do Disneyland first. DCA is a great park too, but this is Disneyland. I agree with something an above poster said, my vacations there always start with Disneyland and that's the last place I am as well, mixing in DCA as we can. If this is your first time, I'd start with DL. But that's just me.

 

[mt mommy]

Starting on Mainstreet USA is magical!!